TWO brothers who travelled more than 2,000 miles to save an organ left languishing in an empty church have been targeted by vandals.

A shocked Uldis Rubezis said he hoped the yobs had not struck after reading about his quest to save a musical instrument which was destined for the scrapheap.

For more than a week Uldis and Vilnis, who hail from Rigas Raj just outside the Latvian capital of Riga, have been busy at the New Jerusalem Church, on Manchester Old Road, Rhodes taking apart the 84-year-old organ so it can be transported back to their homeland.

Once there it will be rebuilt and will once again play music to a congregation.

Unfortunately when the pair returned to their ex-Swiss army vehicle on Tuesday morning they discovered it had been vandalised over the bank holiday weekend. This is the first time in 14 trips to this country salvaging organs that the brothers' equipment has been vandalised.

The vehicle had been parked on Wentworth Close, Archer Park - only because driver Uldis did not want to cause any inconvenience to the residents of the area by parking his vehicle close to the church, in nearby Edgerton Street.

The battery cover had been removed and an attempt was made to steal the batteries. Wiring had also been torn out and the number plate had been damaged.

Sheeting had been been unfastened from its fixing and the back of the lorry had been entered. It is not yet known if a pipe organ stored in the lorry, which the brothers had collected from Bridgewater ready to be put onto a Latvian bound container, had been damaged.

A shocked Uldis said: "Why do they do this, maybe they do not like me?

"This is the first time this has happenend in England. Batteries are £100 each this truck has two to make up the 24 volts."

Elina, Uldis's daughter said: "In England it is sad that fine churches are being demolished, I am so proud that my father is preserving part of the British heritage. Here in Latvia church buildings are saved as cultural monuments."